The daily requirement of iron is needed for postmenopausal women.

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2022

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Medium

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2022

Explanation

The key physiological change in postmenopausal women is the cessation of menstruation (amenorrhea).
Menstrual bleeding is a primary route of iron loss in premenopausal women.
Without this monthly loss, the daily iron requirement for postmenopausal women drops significantly.
Their requirement becomes similar to that of adult men, which is about 8-10 mg per day.
Therefore, 10 mg is the most appropriate daily iron requirement among the given options.

Option B: This amount is closer to the recommended daily allowance for menstruating women (non-pregnant, non-lactating), who need to replace iron lost during their monthly cycle.
Option C: This is the recommended daily iron intake for pregnant women to support the increased maternal blood volume and the development of the fetus and placenta.
Option D: This amount represents a therapeutic or supplemental dose of iron, often prescribed for treating iron-deficiency anemia, particularly during pregnancy. It is not a standard daily dietary requirement.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional requirements, specifically the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iron for postmenopausal women as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in nutritional counseling. Understanding the changing iron needs after menopause is essential for advising patients on appropriate diet and the use of supplements.
It is important to educate postmenopausal women that continuing high iron intake (e.g., through supplements intended for younger women) can lead to iron overload, which can be toxic and damage organs like the liver and heart.
What if? If a postmenopausal woman is on a type of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that induces periodic withdrawal bleeding, her iron needs may be slightly higher than a woman with no bleeding, but likely still lower than her premenopausal requirement. A nutritional assessment would be necessary.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key demographic in the question: 'postmenopausal women'.
Recall the primary physiological change associated with menopause: the cessation of menstruation.
Connect this physiological change to its effect on nutrient requirements. The end of menstrual bleeding means a significant reduction in regular iron loss.
Compare the iron needs of a postmenopausal woman to other groups. Her needs will be much lower than a menstruating or pregnant woman and will be similar to an adult man.
Evaluate the given options. Select the option that reflects this substantially lower requirement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional requirements, specifically the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iron for postmenopausal women.
Stem keywords: daily requirement, iron, postmenopausal women
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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